Connecting (Lily Dale #3)(68)

Calla’s grim reality slams back. In a rush, she tells him about Darrin being dead.

Jacy stops walking, stunned. “I can’t believe I didn’t realize he was in Spirit when we saw him that night.”

“I know. I didn’t either. What do we do about it?”

He shakes his head, looking thoughtful.

“I mean, his parents deserve to know, don’t they?”

“Definitely. Except . . . they left last week to spend the winter in Arizona.”

“Do you know how to reach them?”

“I’m sure the police do.”

“The police!”

“Notifying the Yateses that their son is dead isn’t our job, Calla.”

No. She supposes it isn’t, and she’s relieved about that, considering the hostile confrontation she and Jacy had with the Yateses a few weeks ago. Still . . .

“We’re the ones who have to tell the police, right?”

“I guess so.”

“Can we do it anonymously? I really don’t want the Yateses hating me any more than they already do. We could mail the police a copy of the obituary, right?”

“I guess so,” Jacy says again.

“I’ll do it,” she tells him. But there’s no rush. It’s just going to have to wait until she gets back from Florida.

“So Darrin had nothing to do with your mom’s death after all?”

“I guess not. I mean, he obviously had something to do with her life, and . . . what if he was murdered, too? By whoever killed my mother? I mean, how can they both have died so young, suddenly, so close together? That doesn’t make sense.”

“No,” Jacy agrees, “it doesn’t.”

“Now all I can think about is the signet ring in my dream.

I’m thinking that the heart pierced by three daggers must have been some sort of psychic shorthand but I can’t figure out what it might mean, can you?”

Jacy shakes his head.

“Maybe when I’m on the plane later, I’ll be able to think with a clearer head.”

“So you’re still going to Florida today?”

She nods. “I have to. Now more than ever.”

“What about the police?”

“You mean, telling them about Darrin? There’s no rush.”

“There is if he was murdered, too. That means whoever killed him—and your mom—is still out there.”

“I know. I have to get my mother’s laptop and see what the two of them were e-mailing about.”

“I think you should leave that to the police, too.”

“No way.” Calla shakes her head. “If the police get involved, my father gets involved. And if my father gets involved, I’m out of here.”

“Well, maybe that’s for the best. If you’re in danger here, you need to leave.”

“I am. At least, today. I have to leave school early to catch my flight, so I won’t be in math. Can you get the homework for me?”

“Yeah. But Calla—I mean, come on. This isn’t a good idea.”

“What isn’t?”

“Any of it. I just wish you weren’t going.” He stops walking and pulls her into his arms.

“I know. I have to, though. You get that, right?”

He nods. “But if anything happens to you . . .”

“It won’t. What can happen? I’m going to get Mom’s laptop, bring it back here, and see what’s what.”

“And depending on what you find out, we’ll go to the police.”

“Only if we have to.”

“We’re talking about murder. We have to.”

“We’ll see.”

“You’re stubborn.” He shakes his head. “Did anyone ever tell you that?”

She smiles faintly. “Maybe.”

A sudden gust off the lake flutters glorious golden leaves down around them, and the look in Jacy’s eyes flutters Calla’s heart.

With all that’s going on—let alone the fact that it’s broad daylight in public—this isn’t the ideal time or place for him to kiss her, but who cares? His lips brush Calla’s and his hands flatten on her upper back, holding her close against him, and all logic seems to have been whisked from her head on the sweet-scented October breeze.

She smiles wistfully at him. “I’m going to miss you this weekend.”

“Same here.”

“I’ll have my cell phone with me—there’s no service around here, but it’ll work down there. I can give you the number, so you can call me if you want. And I can call you, too. If you want.”

“Yeah.” He takes her hand, running his thumb over her knuckles. “That would be good.”

Hands clasped, they begin walking again.

After a few steps, Calla senses a presence and glances over her shoulder. Is it Darrin, back to haunt her again?

No.

In the distance, she can see Evangeline trailing along behind them, on her way to school. Her head is bent.

Calla’s heart sinks.

Did she see Jacy and Calla kissing?

Possibly.

Probably.

But what am I supposed to do? Calla wonders helplessly.

She herself is crazy about Jacy—and he seems to feel the same way.